The Arrival
Landing in London on our way to Scotland from LAX turned out to be way easier than I expected. I had been pretty worried about getting through security at LAX on time because of the government shutdown slowing down TSA, but everything actually moved smoothly.
The red-eye flight wasn’t too bad either – we had an empty middle seat, which made it a lot more comfortable and easier to get some rest.
Leaving Southern California, it was still hot, like in the 80s. But when we got to London, the cool, crisp air hit me right away – it felt like a completely different world.
That first night, we went to a popular local spot called Roti King. The wait was about an hour, but honestly, it was worth it. We ordered roti, beef rendang, and char kway teow. The roti was made fresh there, and it definitely lived up to the restaurant’s name—warm, crispy, and so satisfying, especially dipped into the sauce. It felt kind of luxurious in the simplest way.
The beef rendang was just okay—the meat was a little tougher than I expected—but overall, the food and the BUSY vibe made up for it. After a long flight, it just felt really good to sit down and enjoy something that delicious. The char kway teow didn’t have the “wok hai” that have come to expect. But to be honest, just grateful to have overall wonderful food.
Edinburgh
Halò, welcome to Scotland! If you didn’t know, Scotland is known as one of the most haunted places in all of Europe. We just arrived at Edinburgh Waverley Train Station—you can either fly or take the train to get here from London, but we decided to go with the train.
On board, we were greeted with tea or coffee, accompanied by a biscuit of our choice. After arriving, we settled into our hotel beside the University of Edinburgh, which is ranked among the top universities in the UK.
We then headed to the National Museum of Scotland for its beautiful architecture and seven floors of fascinating history and science… although I did get a little distracted by the adorable space-themed Jellycat.
A Taste of the Local Cuisine
When I first heard about Scottish cuisine, I was a little skeptical because of their national dish, called haggis, which is made from sheep’s innards.
We also had some delightful fish and chips—so fresh, light, and flaky despite being deep-fried. The fries tasted different too; something about the potatoes made the texture soft yet crisp at the same time.
We even had the opportunity to slurp up some pretty delicious beef noodle soup, which was perfect for the cold winter weather.
ssss
Art and Everyday Life
Day and nighttime views of the beauty around us. We also loved the Johnnie Walker experience.
A Day at Endiburgh Castle
The reason why I wanted to go to Scotland, was because of these beautiful castle like Enidburgh Castle. Endiburgh Castle is one of the famous castle in Scotland, and is one of the oldest fortifed places in Euorpe. It has a long history of royal residecne, military, prison, and fortress. It is just honestly a beautiful castle, with mediveal vibes and lots of trendy spots to take pictures.
A beautiful day at Prince Street Gardens
OMG, when I say this parks was beautiful, I’m saying I was flabbergasted. We got to see the back view of the Endiburgh Castle and this beautiful fountian. The National Gallery of Scotland is also located their and with this amazing art gallery, you may think this cost you lots but best of all its FREE!!! We were also able to try the famous DISHOOM, bombay style cuisine, I would give this meal a 8.5/10. I will say its good, but would I go here again; probably not.
Reflections
I fell in love with Scotland literally on day one. Not only did I choose it, but it’s also just such a beautiful city with so much history behind it. There are so many little hidden gems for taking pictures, and even though the weather was a bit unpredictable- with sun and rain mixed together- it added to the experience.
It was honestly such a great trip to bond with my dad.
Ending: Thanks Dad for this Trip! Love you
